About St Michael · Caldwell, Ohio
St. Michael Catholic Church is a small, historic country parish in Noble County, Ohio, located south of the village of Carlisle at 44935 Carlisle Road, Caldwell, OH 43724. It is one of four Catholic parishes in Noble County that share pastoral ministry under the Diocese of Steubenville (currently under the care of Bishop Edward M. Lohse, Apostolic Administrator). The parish traces its Catholic roots back to 1803 and serves an active country community from a frame church, rectory, and parish social hall.
- Established
- 1841
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Wayne E. Morris (currently pastor of the Noble County cluster of parishes; recently reassigned as Pastor of St. Ann, Chesapeake; St. Joseph, Ironton; St. Lawrence O'Toole, Ironton; and St. Mary, Pine Grove, per the Diocese of Steubenville clergy page)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Steubenville (Visitation Deanery; Noble County cluster of parishes)
Why belong here
St. Michael's offers the warmth of a small country parish with deep roots—some 220+ years of Catholic faith on the same Duck Creek land where the Archer family first welcomed missionary priests. Sunday Mass at 10:30 am is followed by coffee-and-fellowship around a frame church, rectory, and social hall that generations have tended. Priests of the Noble County cluster also bring the sacraments to local nursing homes and to inmates at Noble Correctional Institution, so belonging here means belonging to a parish that lives its faith beyond its walls.
Mass times at St Michael
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 10:10–10:20 am (immediately before the 10:30 am Mass)
- Any time by request
St. Michael Catholic Church — Carlisle, Caldwell OH
St. Michael is a small historic country parish of the Diocese of Steubenville, part of the four-parish Noble County Catholic cluster. The mailing address is Caldwell, OH, but the church sits south of the village of Carlisle on Carlisle Road, amid 8 acres that hold the frame church (1901), the rectory (remodeled 1921 farmhouse), and the parish social hall (rebuilt 1948). Sunday Mass is offered at 10:30 am, with confessions heard immediately before, and the parish shares weekday Masses, devotions, religious education, and pastoral outreach with its sister parishes in the cluster.
- 44935 Carlisle Road, Caldwell, OH 43724
- Sunday Mass 10:30 am
- Confessions Sunday 10:10–10:20 am
- Diocese of Steubenville, Visitation Deanery
Parish History
Catholic life on Duck Creek traces back to 1803, when James Archer settled his family from Virginia and began hosting missionary priests. By 1828, priests from Zanesville and Temperanceville were visiting regularly. In 1841 the small Irish Catholic community—led by Michael Archer and his brothers—built the first permanent brick church west of the Ohio River. After 59 years it was declared unsafe and replaced by today's frame church south of Carlisle in 1901; the original bricks were reused for its chimneys. In 1921 the parish bought 8 acres with a farmhouse and barn; the farmhouse became the rectory and the barn a social hall. A 1948 tornado destroyed the social hall and the rectory garage, prompting the construction of the present hall that year.
- 1803 – James Archer settles Duck Creek; cabin hosts missionary priests
- 1828 – Priests from Zanesville and Temperanceville begin regular visits
- 1841 – Brick church built under Fr. Murphy; Michael Archer founder
- 1901 – Frame church built south of Carlisle; old bricks used for chimneys
- 1921 – 8 acres purchased; farmhouse and barn become rectory and social hall
- 1948 – Tornado destroys social hall and rectory garage; new social hall built
Founding Founders — The Archer Family
Local histories record that the Archer family was the cradle of St. Michael's. Michael Archer is named as the founder of St. Michael's Catholic Church; his brothers Simon and Nathan were also Catholics (three other brothers became Methodists). Michael, Simon, and Nathan and their families constituted the original membership of the 1841 parish, joined by the Doyles, McCunes, Cullens, and Harknesses. Early visiting priests before the church was built included Fathers Reed, McCallion, and Finley.
- Michael Archer — founder of St. Michael's
- Simon & Nathan Archer — co-founders
- Doyles, McCunes, Cullens, Harknesses — early member families
- Visiting missionaries: Frs. Reed, McCallion, Finley
Clergy & Pastoral Care
St. Michael's is pastored together with the other Noble County parishes by Fr. Wayne E. Morris and Fr. Chester 'Chet' Pabin, Jr., who split their time across the four churches. Fr. Morris also serves as Chaplain of Knights of Columbus Council 2565 in Caldwell and previously as State Chaplain for Ohio. Both priests minister to the residents of Summit Acres Nursing Home and to inmates at Noble Correctional Institution (NCI). Fr. Morris's Diocese of Steubenville clergy listing now lists him as pastor of St. Ann, Chesapeake; St. Joseph, Ironton; St. Lawrence O'Toole, Ironton; and St. Mary Mission, Pine Grove.
- Rev. Wayne E. Morris — Pastor (Noble County cluster)
- Rev. Chester (Chet) Pabin, Jr. — Parochial Vicar
- Knights of Columbus Council 2565 chaplaincy
- Ministry at Summit Acres Nursing Home
- Ministry at Noble Correctional Institution (NCI)
Religious Education / PSR
Faith formation for the parish is delivered through Parish School of Religion (PSR) classes shared by the Noble County Catholic parishes. The shared PSR schedule appears on the cluster bulletin (e.g. Sunday 6:00–8:00 pm PSR sessions) and the cluster's Religious Education page. Families may register through the parish office; sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation are prepared in cooperation with the cluster's sacramental program.
- Shared PSR with Noble County cluster parishes
- Sunday evening PSR sessions (per cluster bulletin)
- Sacramental prep for First Communion & Confirmation
Parish Ministries & Community Life
As a small country parish, St. Michael's leans on its social hall and the generosity of its parishioners for fellowship after Sunday Mass and for parish events. The cluster also organizes annual pilgrimages and bus trips (Frankenmuth, Michigan; Holy Pittsburgh Lenten Pilgrimage; National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation; Italy 2027) and the annual Diocese of Steubenville Men's Day of Renewal. Knights of Columbus Council 2565 (Caldwell) is a lay partner of the parish, with Fr. Morris serving as chaplain.
- Coffee and fellowship after Sunday Mass
- Parish social hall gatherings and dinners
- Knights of Columbus Council 2565 (Caldwell)
- Annual pilgrimages and bus trips
- Diocese of Steubenville Men's Day of Renewal
Sacraments & Outreach
Beyond Sunday Mass and confessions, St. Michael's offers the sacraments on request: baptism, marriage (wedding ceremonies are noted on parish listings), anointing of the sick, and visits to the homebound. Holy Day Masses are celebrated at 7:00 pm. Pastoral outreach extends to Summit Acres Nursing Home and to inmates at Noble Correctional Institution (NCI), bringing the sacraments and the parish's presence to those who cannot easily come to the church.
- Baptism by request
- Marriage / wedding ceremonies
- Anointing of the Sick and homebound visits
- Holy Day 7:00 pm Mass
- Nursing home and prison ministry
Buildings & Grounds
The parish plant consists of three historic structures on 8 acres south of Carlisle: the 1901 frame church (which replaced the 1841 brick church), the 1921 farmhouse-converted rectory, and the present social hall built in 1948 after a tornado destroyed the original social hall and the rectory garage. Over the years, numerous additions and renovations have been made to the structures and grounds to arrive at today's 'beautiful, quaint country church serving the active parish community.'
- 1901 frame church
- 1921 rectory (remodeled farmhouse)
- 1948 social hall (post-tornado)
- 8-acre grounds south of Carlisle
- Old Catholic cemetery adjacent to the original 1841 brick site on SR 260
Visiting & Practical Information
Visitors are warmly welcomed at St. Michael's. The most practical entry point is the Sunday 10:30 am Mass; arriving about 10:10 am lets visitors experience the brief pre-Mass confession time as well. The church phone (740-732-4129) reaches the parish office. Weekly bulletins for St. Michael's and the wider Noble County cluster are published on the cluster website and list any schedule changes.
- 44935 Carlisle Road, Caldwell, OH 43724
- Phone: 740-732-4129
- Website: http://www.nccchurches.org/st-michael/
- Weekly bulletins published on nccchurches.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. Murphy1841–
Built the 1841 brick church under Michael Archer's direction.
- Rev. J. C. Kraemer (Cramer)1847–1856
Said Mass in Michael Archer's barn and was visited by Bishop Purcell of Cincinnati.
- Rev. Dr. Lorg1856–1857
- Rev. J. W. Bruemmer (Brummer)1857–1860
- Rev. D. J. Klueber (Kluber)1860–1883
- Rev. I. G. Luettig (Luttig)1883–1884
- Rev. Edward L. Fladung1884–1889
- Rev. B. H. Hansen1889–1899
- Rev. Joseph Engles1899–1900
- Rev. Joseph Pollman1900–1904
- Rev. J. Bernard Oeink1904–1929
- Rev. O. Trogus1929–1930
- Rev. C. L. Heilman1929–1930
- Very Rev. B. J. Mattes1930–1956
- Rev. J. J. Donaldson1956–1971
- Rev. Walter E. Heinz1971–1985
- Msgr. Francis J. Baudo1985–1992
- Rev. Samuel R. Saorano1992–2007
- Rev. Thomas Hamm, Jr.2007–2010
- Rev. Wayne Morris2010–2022
Pastor; also became pastor of St. Michael and Immaculate Conception in 2011, sharing ministry across the Noble County parishes.
- Rev. Chester Pabin, Jr.2010–2021
Associate Pastor of the Noble County cluster.